Are you planning to study outside of the Province? One of the first steps you should consider is whether the institution you plan to attend is a designated institution (students can only access student financial assistance if they attend a designated institution).

Designation is the formal process that post-secondary educational institutions go through for their students to become eligible to receive student financial assistance. Educational institutions and their programs must be designated before students can receive financial assistance.

A list of designated schools can be found with the Government of Canada. Designation is a student initiated process. If your school does not appear on the list, please contact StudentAidNL.

StudentAidNL also advises potential students to review the repayment rates of the institutions they are considering to attend. Repayment rates can help students and families make informed choices about their post-secondary education. The Government of Canada updates repayment rate annually.

How do I get my International school/program on the list?

StudentAidNL will work with you and your school to decide whether it meets the criteria for designation. There is no cost to you but you should start this process as early as possible to ensure your funding is not delayed. Please reach out as early as you can to start this process as it will take a considerable period of time for a school to receive designation status.

Unfortunately, if your school is ineligible for designation or decides against designation, you will not be able to receive student financial assistance to attend.

Designation is a student-initiated process. Contact us to get started.

Funding Availability

Students studying outside the Province do not have access to more student financial assistance than students studying in Province even if their costs are higher. There are maximum levels of assistance available regardless of where you study – Assistance Available.

Please review National Student Loans Service Centre – Paying For your Education

Generally, students studying outside of the Province at designated institutions are eligible to receive up to $200 per week of study in provincial student loans only. Students studying in Province can receive up to a maximum of $200 per week of study – consisting of $100 per week in provincial student loans and $100 per week in provincial student grants. Students studying outside the Province can access the provincial grant as part of their funding bundle (funding consisting of $100 per week in provincial student loans and $100 per week in provincial student grants) if they meet specific criteria.

Provincial Student Grant Eligibility (Out-of-Province Students Only)

In order to access the provincial student grant, a student must submit a completed Provincial Student Grant Eligibility (Out-of-Province Students Only).

Students must be approved under one (or more) of the reasons listed below. Confirmation of eligibility is only required once per program of study.

• The program is not available in the Province. There are a number of known programs not offered in the Province (i.e., Bachelor of Law, Veterinary Medicine, Architecture). Confirmation that the program is not available in the Province is required.
• The program is substantially different from any program available in the Province. Provide a program outline of the current program and identify the differences from a program offered in the Province.
• The applicant was not admitted to the program in Province due to limited enrolment. Provide confirmation from the educational institution.
• The applicant did not meet the entrance requirements of educational institutions in the Province but did for the same program in another jurisdiction. Provide confirmation from the educational institution.
• The applicant received transfer credits toward or advanced standing into the program which significantly reduced the overall time required to complete the entire program. Provide confirmation from the educational institution.
• The applicant’s spouse/common law partner is completing a program outside the Province that would be eligible for an increased amount of provincial student grant. Provide confirmation from the educational institution.
• The applicant’s spouse/common law partner’s full-time employment is outside the Province. Provide confirmation from the employer.
• Other situations may be applicable – Please specify and include supporting documentation.

Note: Students enrolled in graduate studies (i.e., Masters or Doctoral level) as confirmed by their Program Cost Form completed by their Educational Institution are automatically assessed for provincial loans and grants and are not required to submit this form.